Jesus starts a new parable.
Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luke 18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Two men went up into the temple to pray, one distinguished and the other a tax collector.
I am strongly reminded of the "two men walking into a bar" introduction. This entire verse follows that same structure, the entrance, then the two different kinds of people. Everyone today knows a joke is coming. Did people listening to Jesus know the same? Or did he invent the form with sayings like this?
The "one and the other" statement is also understood in Greek to mean the "primary" and "secondary," implying importance so the Pharisee is put in a higher rank, as the title, "distinguished" implies.
Two men walk into a bar, a bishop and a political appointee.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee(UW), and the other a publican.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "pharisees" means "distinguish" or "separated." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee(UW), and the other a tax collector.
- UW --Untranslated Word -- The word "pharisees" means "distinguish" or "separated." It is an untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
Two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course means "a pair of singers" or "couple" like a married couple.
men - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
went - "Went up" means "to go up," "to mount," and "to turn up." It has a lot of specific meanings including "ascending to higher knowledge." "Sprung up" is used specifically to describe when plants grow on sticks or other plants, entwining them, or "mounting" them. The root word means "step." And the prefix of the verb means "up."
up- This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
into -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
temple - "The temple" is a word related to the one above, from the same root, which means literally "holy place" or "temple." Both come from the root word, which means "super-human," "mighty," "divine," "wonderful" and "holy." This makes "holy man" a "wonderful man" and a "holy place," a "wonderful place."
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
pray; -- The Greek word translated as "pray" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "ask for a thing." --
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
one - The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
Pharisee, -- (UW) "Pharisees" is an example of where we use the Greek word as the name of the religious sect, instead of translating it. In Greek, the word means the "separatists" or "the judgmental," but it is a Hebrew word meaning "distinguished" or "elite." So this word means "distinguish" used as a title, "the distinguished."
and -- The word "and" is the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
other -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
publican. -- The Greek term translated as "publican" means "farmer" and "tax collector." by Jesus's time, tax collectors were not tax-farmers, that is, private individuals who bought the right to collect taxes. Tax collectors worked directly for Rome, but the term "farmer" stuck from an earlier era when they were tax-farmers. Historically, these tax-collectors or rent collectors were notoriously corrupt, especially as tax farmers. They were made into government employees to reform them.
Two -- The "two" is the numeral, "two," which, like numbers in English, plays a lot of roles. Often, it acts as an adjective, but without a noun to modify, so it takes on the role of a noun. The Greek word is "duo," which of course means "a pair of singers" or "couple" like a married couple.
men - The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples."
went - "Went up" means "to go up," "to mount," and "to turn up." It has a lot of specific meanings including "ascending to higher knowledge." "Sprung up" is used specifically to describe when plants grow on sticks or other plants, entwining them, or "mounting" them. The root word means "step." And the prefix of the verb means "up."
up- This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
temple - "The temple" is a word related to the one above, from the same root, which means literally "holy place" or "temple." Both come from the root word, which means "super-human," "mighty," "divine," "wonderful" and "holy." This makes "holy man" a "wonderful man" and a "holy place," a "wonderful place."
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
pray; -- The Greek word translated as "pray" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "ask for a thing." --
There is a "the" here in some ancient manuscripts but not others.
one - The word translated as "to" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to."
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
Pharisee, -- (UW) "Pharisees" is an example of where we use the Greek word as the name of the religious sect, instead of translating it. In Greek, the word means the "separatists" or "the judgmental," but it is a Hebrew word meaning "distinguished" or "elite." So this word means "distinguish" used as a title, "the distinguished."
and -- The word "and" is the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
other -- The word translated as "another" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
publican. -- The Greek term translated as "publican" means "farmer" and "tax collector." by Jesus's time, tax collectors were not tax-farmers, that is, private individuals who bought the right to collect taxes. Tax collectors worked directly for Rome, but the term "farmer" stuck from an earlier era when they were tax-farmers. Historically, these tax-collectors or rent collectors were notoriously corrupt, especially as tax farmers. They were made into government employees to reform them.
Ἄνθρωποι [209 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Men" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate. Used as a form of address, it is a bit contemptuous, "sir."
δύο. [36 verses](numeral) "Two" is duo, which means the number "two," "a couple," and "a pair." -- The Greek word for "two" means "two" or a "couple."
ἀνέβησαν [14 verses] (3rd pl aor ind act) "Went up" is anabainô, which means "to go up," "to mount," and "to turn up." It is the word used for mounting a horse, going aboard a ship, or ascending to heaven. For plants, it is used specifically to describe when plants grow on sticks or other plants, entwining them, or "mounting" them.
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."With verbs of speaking, it is the person spoken "to." With time, a limit "until," or a duration "for," "throughout," or a date, "on," "at." Used with ek, it means "from...to."
τὸ [821 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἱερὸν [7 verses] (noun sg neut nom/acc) "Temple"is from hieron, means which means "filled with or manifesting divine power," "holy," "consecrated," "under divine protection," "holy place," "sacred principle," and "supernatural." It is related to the word used for "priest." Both come from the word hieros, which means "super-human," "mighty," "divine," "wonderful" and "holy."
προσεύξασθαι, [26 verses] ( verb aor inf mid ) "To pray" is from proseuchomai, which means "to offer prayers or vows," "to worship," and "to pray for a thing. It is the combination of two Greek word, pros, meaning "towards" or "by reason of," and euchomai, meaning "to pray to God." -- The Greek word translated as "pray" means "to offer prayers of vows" either "to worship" or "ask for a thing." --
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." (This does not appear in all ancient manuscripts.)
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."With verbs of speaking, it is the person spoken "to." With time, a limit "until," or a duration "for," "throughout," or a date, "on," "at." Used with ek, it means "from...to." -
Φαρισαῖος [19 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Pharisee" is Pharisaios, which means "the separated," "the separate ones," " separatist" and refers to the religious sect. The word may come from the Hebrew, pāraš, which means "to make distinct," "declare," "distinguish," "separate," and, amusingly, "to pierce," and "sting." So the sense is also "the distinguished" or "the elite."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "Although" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." Εἰ καὶ means "although."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ἕτερος [21 verses]( adj sg masc nom ) "Other" is heteros, which means "one or the other of two," "the second," "the secondary," "the minor," "other things [of like kind]," "another," "different," "other than," "different from," "other than should be," and "in another or a different way." As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way," "differently," "otherwise than should be," "badly," and "wrongly."
τελώνης [9 verses] (noun sg masc nom) "Publicans" is telônês, which means a collector of taxes, tolls, or customs.